Global Perspectives in Social Work (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

Autumn semester annually

Objective

Learning objectives/outcomes: The aim of the course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the impact of global perspectives for local social work practice, which is a basic competency in international social work professional education.
On completion of the course students will gain:
•knowledge of the theoretical concepts essential for the analysis of the local global context of practice
•a critical understanding of a shared profession and the structures and standards of international social work
•knowledge of sustainable development goals (SDG) and opportunities for transnational practice
•knowledge of human rights, inequality, and power relations as a basis of structural social work
•understanding of mass migration and superdiversity and the implications for critical intercultural practice and policy.

Execution methods

Online course/autumn. Responsible university: University of Eastern Finland.
Teaching profile for University of Lapland: ONLINE 1.

Accomplishment methods

Online participation and learning tasks.

Content

Finnish social work education seeks to prepare students for employment within communities and human and welfare services across Finland, Europe and internationally. Essential knowledge for achieving this aim involves an understanding of the global context of professional practice (Sosnet 2006; IFSW & IASSW, 2020). The reality is that people’s lives increasingly transcend national boundaries and global events shape local realities. Social work structures, problems and interventions are no longer located and contained within local and national boundaries. Theorist such as Dominelli (2004), Ife (2010) and Akimoto (2008) have outlined the consequences of globalization on local contexts, including mass migration, superdiversity, universal human rights, growing poverty and inequality, issues of environmental sustainability, digital transformation, disaster and crisis preparedness, indigenous rights, and transnationalism, on the profession of social work. These issues are explored through emerging global perspectives in social work (i.e. structuralism, post humanism, transnationalism, multiculturalism, decolonisation, and comparative analysis).

Location and time

Pre-recorded online series of lectures over 7 weeks available to student for the duration of the course. Autumn semester annually

Materials

Recommended Texts  

Anand, J.C., Das, C., (2019). Global mindedness in international social work practice. London. Palgrave Macmillan.  Harrikari, T., & Rauhala, P-L. (2018). Towards glocal work in the era of compressed modernity. Routledge.  

Teaching methods

Online course/autumn. Online participation and learning tasks.
Enrollment to this course: contact Emilia Brusila emilia.brusila@ulapland.fi
Responsible university: University of Eastern Finland/Sosnet network
More detailed information: https://www.sosnet.fi/EN/Undergraduate-Studies

Teaching is both synchronous and asynchronous. Students can work through the course at their own pace but are invited to participate in weekly online digital activities (1hr x7 weeks) including a monitory introductory course webinar (2hrs) and comparative online seminar (2hrs).

Self-directed learning involving pre-recorded short lectures, including key readings and discussion forum, together with optional interactive online tutorials for additional student interaction and guidance.

Student workload

The course constitutes 135 hours of study for 5 credit points.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessed according to the UEF marking scale from 0 (Fail) to 5 (Excellent). See course site for marking and assessment criteria.

Further information

Undertaking a social work major or associated social science major would assist in understanding the perspectives and social work methods covered.